Envelope



G. E. WEIR Nov. 19, 1935.

ENVELOPE Filed Sept. 11, 1934 INVENTOR GORDON EVERETT W IR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE Gordon Everett Weir, Bayside, N. Y.

Application September 11, 1934, Serial No. 743,495

3 Claims.

My invention relates to paper receptacles and more particularly to envelopes.

Ordinary envelopes, and in fact all envelopes insofar as I am aware, are formed from paper 5 stock die-cut to provide irregularly shape-d flaps adapted to be folded and fastened together to complete the envelope enclosure. Being die-cut and of irregular shape, a certain amount of waste paper stock, in the manufacture of such envelopes,

': is therefore inevitable.

In recent years, with an urge toward economy, the so-called self-mailer type envelope has been used more or less extensively. It is widely used by commercial houses where a customer or client is requested to remit some payment due,

or to supply some desired information. One excellent example of such use is the self-mailing envelope-renewal-blank used by magazine publishers to secure renewal subscriptions with money enclosures from subscribers whose subscriptions are about to, or have recently expired. Some of these envelope-renewal-blanks take the form of unsealed envelopes, self-addressed, (containing whatever printed matter is necessary) placed loosely within the magazine or other periodical, whereas others take the form of a flat die-cut sheet, suitably gummed, and having the same printed matter as the above envelopes, plus folding instructions. This latter form of enveloperenewal-blank is usually stitched or otherwise fastened within the magazine and is required to be torn out along a perforate line before it can be used for mailing.

The proposed envelope differs from envelopes of the prior art in that it is formed from a substantially rectangular blank; can be manufactured at less cost than an ordinary envelope; and is so formed and constructed as to completely eliminate Waste paper stock in its manufacture.

Its advantages over current forms are many: (1)

Economy; (a) It eliminates dies and the rather expensive operation of die-cutting; and (b) It uses approximately seventeen percent less paper stock than the ordinary or standard business envelope of the same size; (2) Safety: It aifords a perfect seal and is accordingly non-pilferable. (The stick-in type envelope-renewal-blank above referred to can be easily pilfered, without detection, and the envelope forwarded on its Way) And (3) Appearance: In outward appearance, when folded, it is generally similar to any other standardized form of business envelope. When used as a stick-in, it is striking and distinctive (on a bias as distinguished from the verticalhorizontal matter in the magazine itself) and should, by virtue of its distinctive appearance, bring superior results.

Used as a self-mailer envelope-renewal-blank the rectangular form illustrated may be said to generally consist of four folds-the two lateral 5 folds intersecting the two folds which are vertical. Preferably, folds are suitably scored and marked and instructions printed on the inside face of the rectangle. One, two or three gumming areas are so located as to admit of a complete or 10 partial seal. By folding (as per printed instructions) and sealing, the flat rectangular sheet becomes a completed envelope of conventional appearance.

In the drawing: 15;

Fig. l is a plan view of the sheet stock (biased as would be the case when used as a stick-in) from which the completed envelope is formed;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views showing the different folds required to be made, and 21) Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing in detail one of the corner folds.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, there is shown in Fig. 1 a substantially rectangular blank ID from which a com- 25 pleted rectangular envelope is formed. The edges ll, [2, l3 and I4 of the blank 10 are straightsided. Being straight-sided, no die-cutting operations are required to be performed in the manufacture of the blanks or sheets. 30

Adjacent to each edge of the blank III the sheet stock is scored in a straight line as indicated at l5, I6, I! and [8, respectively. Scores [5 and I! extend parallel and at right angles to the scores l6 and I8. Each score intersects two right-angle 35 scores as well as two edges of the blank which extend at right angles to each other. In other words, score I5 intersects scores I8 and I6 and edges II and I2; score It intersects scores [5 and I1 and edges I2 and 13; score l1 intersects scores 0 I8 and I6 and edges l3 and I4; and score 18 intersects scores l5 and H and edges H and I4. Thus arranged, the scores collectively define within the approximate center of the blank an area having marginal edges equal in length to the length 5 of the marginal edges of the completed envelopes.

Those areas without or beyond the edges of the center area may be referred to as folds or flaps. Said flaps, four in number, and designated respectively as I9, 20, 2| and 22, are of triangular shape, 50 and each, as the completed envelope is formed, is adapted to be folded in the same direction; first one end or lateral flap, then the other end or lateral flap, then one vertical or longitudinal flap, and finally the other vertical or longitudinal 5 fiap; it being immaterial, depending upon the gumming, which of the end flaps and which of the longitudinal flaps is first folded. Where along the edges of the flaps l9 and 2| only, and

along the edge of the flap 2| is interrupted so as not to contact the center area of the sheet when the fiap 2| is folded. The scores I 5, I6, I! and I8, in each instance, mark the lines along which the respective folds are to be made.

From the above it will be seen that each flap or fold is adapted to be folded along a score extending at other than a right angle to any given side or edge of the sheet or blank; that the score lines intersect one another at an angle in a manner such that each flap or fold is provided adjacent to its ends with an overlap or double thickness indicated at 26; and that envelopes of ordinary appearance can be completely formed from a single non-die-cut sheet or blank having straight edges without any Waste stock whatsoever.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

What is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, an envelope formed from a single substantially rectangular sheet, said sheet being provided with scalene triangular fiaps adapted to be folded toward one another along straight lines arranged to intersect two adjacent edges of the sheet, the lines of fold collectively defining a biased rectangle having its four corners spaced inwardly from the edges of said sheet.

2. As an article of manufacture, an oblong rectangular envelope formed from a single oblong rectangular sheet, said sheet being provided with side flaps and end flaps adapted to be folded toward one another along straight lines arranged to intersect two other straight lines of fold and two adjacent edges of the sheet, the lines of fold collectively defining a biased rectangle having its four corners spaced inwardly from the edges of said sheet, the end fiaps, when folded, having their innermost portions disposed in non-overlapping relation, and the side flaps, when folded, having their innermost portions disposed in overlapping relation both with respect to each other and to said end flaps, said folds, when made, giving to the envelope its oblong rectangular shape, and means for sealing one said folded side flap to both folded end flaps and the other said folded side fiap to all three.

3. As an article of manufacture, an envelope blank comprising a single substantially rectangular sheet, said sheet having markings indicating lines along which it is adapted to be folded, the lines in each instance being arranged to intersect two other fold lines at points spaced inwardly from the edges of the blank, said markings collectively defining a biased rectangle smaller in size than the rectangular sheet, and, in conjunction with the edges of the sheet, a plurality of scalene triangular flaps having a combined surface area greater than the surface area of said biased rectangle.

GORDON EVERETT WEIR. 

